Survey: U.S. Uninsured Rate Declined in Past Year

The U.S uninsured rate showed a modest decline from 17.3 percent in December 2013 to 16.1 percent this month, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Gallup based its analysis on more than 9,000 interviews with Americans between Jan. 2 and Jan. 19. This examination revealed the percentage of uninsured adults as of this past Sunday was slightly lower than what Gallup has measured in any month since December 2012.

The uninsured rate declined the most — 6.7 percentage points — among those who are unemployed, although the unemployed still have the highest uninsured rate at 34.1 percent. Additionally, Gallup found uninsured rates continue to be higher among younger Americans so far, with those ages 18 to 34 showing only a 0.2 percentage point decline to 24.5 percent. By contrast, 17 percent of those aged 35 to 64 are uninsured.

Given the uninsured rate has fluctuated at other times during the last several years, it's unclear at this point whether the modest decline in the uninsured population is a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or was caused by other factors, according to Gallup.

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